'London is Blue!' Mykhailo Mudryk teases Arsenal rival Oleksandr Zinchenko

Mykhailo Mudryk insists London remains ‘blue’ despite Chelsea being forced to stare up enviously at Premier League table and rivals Arsenal this season.

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The Ukraine international appeared to be on the verge of joining Mikel Arteta’s title chasers in January but after the Gunners failed to agree a fee with Shakhtar Donetsk, Todd Boehly pounced and secured the services of one Europe’s most highly-rated forwards.

Mudryk has thus far struggled to live up to the hype and justify his £88.5million fee with his seven appearances thus far yielding just a solitary assists and Graham Potter failing to find a regular place in his starting XI for the most expensive of the club’s January recruits.

Despite lining up for rival capital clubs, Mudryk has been thankful for the presence of Oleksandr Zinchenko who has helped him acclimatise to his new surroundings.

‘He helped me a lot. I like him so much. We often joke about Arsenal, Chelsea and what colour London is,’ he told Sky Sports.

‘But I like this guy, he is a very funny and very kind guy. We spend time always [together] in a positive way.’

Asked what colour London was, Mudryk replied emphatically: ‘Blue.’

With war still being waged on his homeland following Russia’s invasion 16 months ago, it is little wonder Mudryk has struggled to hit the ground running.

‘My parents are still there in Ukraine. Everyday I call them and ask about everything, what the situation is now, how they are and everything about what is now the situation in our country,’ he added.

‘Their [British public] reaction, for me, is good because some people ask me about the situation in Ukraine. Some people are worrying about the situation. I am grateful to these people who help Ukraine because it means a lot.’

Mudryk and Zinchenko will line-up on the same side come Sunday when Ukraine look to spoil England’s perfect start to their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign which began with a 2-1 win in Italy on Thursday.

Harry Kane became England’s record goalscorer with the decisive penalty in Naples and Mudryk admits he is a huge admirer of the Tottenham legend.

He said: ‘Very good quality of player. I know a little bit of him, I like the way he worked a lot to become the top scorer of all-time of England.’

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